Game apparatus



May 13, 1941. w. A. GLOVR TAL GAME APPARATUS Filed April 9, V1940 www M Patented May 13, 1941 GAME APPARATUS William Alexander Glover, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Addie Sue Wimberly, Rome, Ga.

Application April 9, 1940, Serial No. 328,746

Claims.

'Ihe present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a' game apparatus, and more particularly to improvements in an implement for playing games of the type employing some form of game-piece which is adapted to be moved. toward and away from a player. n l VThere are several types of games which contemplate the movement of some form of gamepiece between opposing players. In tennis, for instance,` a ball is propelled by manipulation of a racket between opposing players on opposite sides "of .a suitably marked court which is divided into opposing Zones by a net. The ball may be vhit during its original trajectory, or afterY a single bounce. In badminton, on the other hand, the shuttle, or bird, is hit only during its original ight. There are other types of games, such as squash, wherein one or more marked walls are employed and against which the game-piece may be directed. f

According to the present invention, the gamepiece is preferably in the form of a ball which is adapted to be propelled and caught by manipuulation of the game implement. The ball may be projected against a wall board and caught on i the rebound'by the same or another player, but

the invention particularly contemplates the projecting of the ball by one player and the catching ofthe ball by an opposing player. Each player has a game implement which can be manipulated in one hand, and this implement includes a receptacle for catching the ball and a projecting mechanism for starting the ball on its flight. A line or net may be employed for dividing the playing surface into opposing Zones which may, if desired, be sub-divided in various ways. 'Ihe ball is to be propelled by operation of theprojecting means on the implement by one player into an opposing zone where it is to be caught on proper manipulation of the implement by another player. Various rules may be drawn for playing such a game, but it is contemplated that the ball may be caught on its original trajectory, or on its first bounce.y Differential scoring may be devised for such variations.v If the opposing player fails to catch the ball with the implement, the opposingv player is entitled to a predetermined score.

An object of the invention is to provide a game implement of the above type which includes a exible and reversible receptacle so as to permit the ball to be caught in various positions of the implement, and which also includesV a ball projecting mechanism which is manipulated by the player.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game implement of the above type wherein the projecting mechanism is in the form of a catapult and may be cocked and released by finger manipulation of the player.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game implement of the above type wherein the catapult means includes a ball holding device which is constructed so as to permit the ball to be releasably maintained therein, thus permitting the implement to be aimed at any angle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game implement of the above type having a ring member disposed substantially in the plane I of the implement handle for supporting the flexible netted receptacle, and wherein the catapult means is movable substantially in line with the handle and in' a plane at right angles to the plane of the ring member whereby to permit the game-piece to be aimed by aiming of the implement.

v The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1-is a perspective View of the game implement withthe projecting mechanism and ball in cocked position. g

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, in section, showing the game implement of Figure 1, but showing the position of the projecting mechanism after the ball is released in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the ball holdin means on the projecting mechanism.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the game implement includes a handle Il) which may be grasped by the hand Hof the player. imbedded therein and secured thereto the leg portions II ,4 I Ia of a wire member which includes a lforwardly spaced ring portion I2. A reinforcing ring member I3, 'coincidental with the ring portion I2, is'secured adjacent therto by a substantially S-shaped clamping member I4. The ring portion I2 and the ring member I3 are made from wire stock and thus cooperate with one another for v strengthening purposes. clamping member I4 are the strands I5`of a flexible net I6 which provides `a exible receptacle for catching the lball B, or other game-piece. The flexible netted receptacle It is reversible through the'ring members so that the gamepiece or ball may be caught in various positions The forward end of the handle I0 has Secured around the tion.

of the implement. A thimble Il is secured over the forward end of the handle portion Ill.

The leg portions II, IIa of the ring portion I2 are disposed next to one another where they are secured to the handle portion I0, and these leg portions are disposed substantially next to one another where the ring portion I2 begins. However, the intermediate portions I8, Ia of the leg portions II, IIa., respectively, are spaced apart and form a substantially diamond-shaped guide portion for the projecting mechanism. This projecting mechanism preferably includes a bent leaf spring I9 which is secured to the bottom face of the handle ID by means of bolts 20 and nuts ZI. The heads of the bolts 20 may be disposed in countersunk recesses 22 in the upper face of the handle I El so that the handle will present a smooth surface to the players hand. The nuts 2l on the bottom face of the handle I0 may also be countersunk and the spring member I9 accordingly shaped, if so desired. However, when the nuts 2l are exposed, they serve as iinger gripping means for the player. The end I9a of the spring member I9 is imbedded Vin the handle I9 which may be made of wood or the like.

The free end 23 of the leaf spring I9 is bent upon itself to provide a rounded bead which serves as a thumb gripping surface for setting or cooking the projecting mechanism. Between the free end of the spring I9 and the curved portion ISb thereof, a ball holding device 24 is mounted. The ball holding device is preferably formed from sheet metal and includes a base portion 25 which is secured to the spring member I 9 adjacent the free end 23 thereof by means of abolt 26 or the like. A part of the base portion 25 on each side of the spring member I9 is cut and bent beneath the edges of the spring member so as to provide holding lugs 21, 21a, The holding device is substantially circular in shape and includes at the forward end thereof a relatively high upstanding wall portion 28. The forward wall portion 28 is reduced in height to provide curved side portions 29, 29a which merge into a relatively short rear end portion 30. The edge of the front wall portion 28 and thelside wall portions 29, 29a are turned inwardly to provide a holding flange 3|. Thus, the ball B which iS slightly resilient may be lightly pressed into the holding device and held therein by engagement of the flange 3| therewith. Thus, the implement can be turned through any angle without the ball dropping out of the holding device. The gradual reduction of the height of the wall portions 29, 29a toward the rear of the holding device is for the purpose of permitting the ball to be projected therefrom without interference 'when the projecting mechanism is released.

In operation, the ball B is lightly pressed into the holding device 24 Within the recess formed by the wall portions 28, 29, 29a. 3U, so that the flange 3l will lightly hold the ball in this posi- The projecting mechanism, which is `in the form of a catapult, is cocked or setto the position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2 with the thumb of the players hand engaging the free end 23. In this position of the device, the player can aim the implement and a slight alteration of this aim is permitted by laterally moving the leaf spring i9 by the thumb. Upon releasing the free end 23 of the catapult spring I9, the spring and holding device will assume the Vposition shown in dotted lines in Figure A2, and `the ball B will be released from Vthe holding dealtered according to the various rules.

It will be seen that the ring supporting members I2, I3 for the net receptacle I9 are disposed substantially in a plane with the straight handle portion Ill. The catapult spring also moves substantially in a plane with the handle portion Ill. However, this latter plane of movement of the spring I9 is disposed at substantially right angles to the plane of the receptacle supporting ring, The spring I9 is guided to a limited extent by the outwardly bent leg portions I8, Illa which also serve to limit forward movement of the spring when released, thus preventing the projecting mechanism from discharging the ball into the net of the same implement through its ring support. The movement of the spring I9 in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the net supporting ring and the limiting stop for the spring assure proper projection of the ball without interference from the net or its supporting member.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that minor changes in the de tails of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A game implement comprising ahandle, a supporting ring having leg portions secured to said handle, said leg portions being outwardly bent intermediate the ends thereof, a net carried by said supporting ring for catching ra projected game-piece, a flat spring having one end thereof secured to said handle and having the free end thereof extending between the outwardly bent leg portions, and means carried adjacent the free end of said spring for holding a game-piece whereby to `permit setting and releasing of the spring to effect projection of the vgame-piece.

2. A game implement comprising a handle, a supporting ring having leg portions secured to said handle, said leg portions being bent outwardly intermediate the ends thereof, a net carried bysaid supporting ring for catching a projected game-piece, a bent spring having one end thereof secured to said handle and having the free end thereof extending between the outwardly bent leg portions and adapted to strike against the forward portion of said leg portions when released whereby to provide a limiting stop, and means carried adjacent the free end of said spring for holding a game-piece whereby to permit setting and releasing of the spring to effect ,projection of the game-piece.

4. In a game implement for projecting and catching a game-piece, the combination of a handle, a game-piece catching device secured to the handle immediately adjacent one end thereof, a game-piece projecting mechanism carried by the handle close to the catching device and movable in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the said catching device and substantially in line with said handle whereby to permit aiming of the game-piece, and means for preventing said projecting mechanism from extending over the receiving end of said catching device when of said catching device when the projecting mechanism isi'released.

6. A game-piece implement comprising a handle, a supporting ring for a catching device, said ring having spaced leg portions secured to said handle, a spring having one end thereof secured to said handle and having the free end thereof extending between said leg portions, and means carried adjacent the free end of said spring for holding a game-piece whereby to permit setting and releasing of the springto effect projection of the game-piece.

7. A game implement for projecting and catchf ing a game-piece, comprising a holding member carried by said handle and adapted to support a catching device, a game-piece projecting mechanism carried by said handle, and means located between said member and said handle and coing a game-piece, comprising a handle carrying a game-piece catching device, a game-piece projecting mechanism releasable toward said catching device, and a recessed holder carried by said V projecting mechanism and having inwardly directed ange means for gripping the game-piece during movement of the projecting mechanism toward a set position whereby to prevent accidental displacement of the game-piece prior to projection thereof.

9. A game implement for projecting 'and catching a game-piece, comprising a handle carrying a game-piece catching device, a game-piece pro.

jecting mechanism carried by said handle and adapted to be shifted to a set position away from said catching device, a substantially cylindrical holder mounted adjacent the free end of said projecting mechanism for holding the game-piece during shifting of the projecting mechanism to ya set position whereby to prevent accidental displacement of the game-piece prior to projection thereof, and the wall portion of said holder being reduced in height toward therear of said projecting mechanism when in set position whereby to facilitate release of the game-piece when the projecting mechanism is released from its set position.

10. A ygame implement for vprojecting and catching a game-piece, comprising a handle carrying a game-piece catching device, a bent spring having one end thereof secured to said .handle with the free end thereof extending forwardly of said handle toward said catching device and adapted to be pulled back into set position, a substantially cylindrical holder mounted adjacent the free end of said spring, flange means n extending inwardly from a portion of said holder operating with said projecting mechanism for guiding the said projecting mechanism and for preventing the same from extending over the receiving end of the catching device when released whereby to prevent interference with the free use of the catching device.

8. A game implement for projecting and catchfor gripping the game-piece during movement of the spring to its Aset position whereby to prevent accidental displacement of the game-piece prior to projection thereof, and the wall portion of said holder being reduced in height toward the free end of said spring when in set position whereby to facilitate release of the game-piece when the spring is released from the said set position.

WILLIAM ALEKAN DER GLOVER. ADDIE SUE WIMBERLY. 

